E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

Monday, February 9, 2009

Can't trust that day

Portland commissioner Nick "the" Fish has a busy day ahead: Mark Edlen and Sustainable Susan at 11, then Bruce Warner at 3:30. There ought to be enough linchpins there to accelerate the city's bankruptcy by six months.

Comments (10)

What an intriguing first 1-1.5 hours the Fish must have with his desk work each day. My guess is that at least ten minutes for hair and an additional five (5) on the teeth. Then there is the daily Sammy cover-up briefing and obligatory "people's work" and "city business" lexicon to refine for the sheep.

it is good to be Prince when the Sam-King is flailing on the bottom of the boat.

I hope you have been informed by your staff and other SoWa developers, including OHSU and PSU, that they want a major redefinition of what meets the criteria for "workforce housing".

They have been lobbying PDC and you (Council) to increase those eligible for several taxpayer subsidies with incomes up to 125% of the MFI. That means someone making approx. $68,000 per year is eligible for subsidies. That's many of us.

Also lobbying has been made to add "student housing" to the definition of "affordable housing". Dorms/etc. built, renovated by our public institutions would be eligible.

These kinds of "discussions" have been occurring behind closed doors and once at a NM URAC subcommittee budget meeting. When comments have been made by committee members, League of Women Voters, and Affordable Housing advocates that these two redefinitions are monumental and need to be discussed fully throughout the many agencies that would have interest, the PDC staff have left it lying under the rug.

But I am sure you are aware of it. But shouldn't the consequences be openly discussed? The taxpayers will be footing the bill for the hundreds of millions of dollars this will cost-with no discussion.

I never imagined that "affordable housing" could benefit someone attending PSU or OHSU, etc.. Or someone making much more than the average citizen could get "workforce housing" subsidies. That means an intern doctor at OHSU could possible be eligible. We'll be lucky if 25% of the rest of us will be left to pay the bill. Shameful, isn't it?

"and how to stimulate construction of rental housing during the recession."

Why do we need to BUILD anything. Multnomah county has 4493 homes in foreclosure right now.(Realtytrac) Why don't you just buy them? Wouldn't that be a lot cheaper and more eco friendly than building more.

The City should look more closely at managing and promoting the survival and maintenance of existing affordable apartments. And I mean TRULY affordable for the low or low-mid income worker.

That means rents that are truly 30-40% of the resident's income (the fairy story I hear, re. how much of one's income should go toward housing). Nothing like that exists in Portland anymore. Affordable apartment complexes are seen as investment opportunities and assets for those who used to build or manage more upscale complexes and buildings.

Because the City and State do little to protect low income renters, establishing no controls over the frequently and rate of increases in rent, placing no limits on fees, deposits and demands that the prospective tenant must make from 2x to 4x the monthly rent, demanding no improvements or maintenance concurrent with the increases except in cases of extreme neglect (and even then, owners and landlords continue to ignore problems for years after confronted with violations), allowing owners to evict good tenants with 30 days' notice and no assistance in relocating (except in the case of condo conversion . . . something that rarely happens in the current economy), etc.

More and more landowners are opting out of their Section 8 and affordable housing agreements with the City even though tax dollars were originally given to help in the building of some of these places. When the contract expires, they are under no legal obligation to offer affordable apartments . . . only a notice to the tenants that they must leave to make room for those who are wealthier.

There are few City subsidized properties with almost no openings. And when there are openings, they are usually for single chronic substance abusers or families with up to five children. Responsible low-income singles or couples need not apply.

I have been appalled to read that, in some cases nationally, people making $200,000 a year can apply for assistance in certain circumstances. If it is true that someone locally making $68,000 a year can qualify for subsidies, something is very wrong. From what I understand the MEDIAN income for Portland/Vancouver/Beaverton is $47,000 a year (as of Feb 2, 2009 per the feds) and that seems high to me, given that I know many who do not even make $20,000 a year.

It is a shame that the laws are made by people who don't understand what it is to struggle and who will probably never find themselves in the circumstances of many Portlanders and Oregonians who must rent.

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 156
At this date last year: 225
Total run in 2014: 401
In 2013: 257
In 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269